State math test opt-outs drop in local school districts

Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia discusses the test scores for students in 3-8 grades in a video released by the state Education Department on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017.
Joseph Spector, Albany Bureau

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School districts, fearing financial repercussions if too many students refuse to take state tests next week, are urging parents to reconsider the decision to opt out.(Photo: LuckyBusiness, Getty Images/iStockphoto)

When students took ELA tests in April, refusal rates ranged from 2 percent in Poughkeepsie City School District to 62 percent in New Paltz.

Math refusal rates range from 3 percent in Poughkeepsie to 48 percent in the Highland district.

While Highland's opt out numbers are "still high, they are the lowest rates we've had since before 2015," said Sarah Dudley-Lemek, assistant superintendent for administration.

The New Paltz district, which historically has the highest local rate of refusals, has not shared numbers. Neither had the Beacon, Hyde Park, Marlboro or Red Hook districts.

A push to decouple New York's teacher-evaluation system from students' scores on standardized tests is gaining momentum at the state Capitol, Gannett's Albany Bureau reported.

Lawmakers in both houses of the Legislature introduced bills in late April that would drop a requirement that school districts use the grade 3-8 math and English exams to rate teachers and principals.

The issue has long been a sticking point for the powerful New York State United Teachers union, which has thrown its support behind the bill and is hoping to convince lawmakers to act on it before the state's legislative session ends in mid-June.

This article will be updated as districts supply 2018 math test refusal information. All test refusal numbers from previous years are from Journal archives.

Math exam refusal rates by school district

Arlington: This year, 31 percent of students opted out of math exams — 1,064 of 3,385, said Deputy Superintendent Phil Benante.

This year, 62 percent of students refused ELA tests, compared to 64 percent in 2017.

Pawling: This year's math opt out rate was 33 percent, with 175 of 532 students refusing, according to Superintendent William Ward.

Last year's math refusal rate was 40 percent.

This year's ELA opt out rate was 29 percent, compared to 37 percent in 2017.

Pine Plains: This year, 28 percent of students opted out of math, or 114 of 400, according to Superintendent Martin Handler and school principals.

Three students who opted out of the ELA test in April ended up taking the math exam this week, said Tara Grieb, principal of Stissing Mountain Junior/Senior High School.

Last year, 34 percent of students refused math tests.

This year's ELA opt out rate was 26 percent, compared to 31 percent in 2017.

Poughkeepsie: This year, nearly 3 percent of students refused math exam: 51 of 1,904 eligible test-takers, according to Superintendent Nicole Williams and other staff.

The Poughkeepsie district historically has the lowest local opt out rates.

Last year, 4 percent of students refused math tests.

This year's ELA refusal rate is the same as it was last year: 2 percent.

Red Hook: This year's math refusal data have not been provided.

Last year, 34 percent of students refused math tests.

This year, 32 percent of eligible students refused ELA exams, according to Superintendent Paul Finch. Last year's ELA refusal rate was 36 percent.

Rhinebeck: This year, 18 percent of students — 90 of 495 — opted out of math exams, said Superintendent Joe Phelan. The same percentage refused ELA exams in April.

Last year's math and ELA refusal rates were both 23 percent.

Spackenkill: This year's math opt out rate was 24 percent, with 148 of 622 students refusing the test, according to Lori Mulford, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction, and pupil personnel services.

Last year, 26 percent of students refused math tests.

Nearly 23 percent of students opted out of ELA exams this year. Just about the same percentage of children opted out last year.

Wappingers: This year, 35 percent of eligible students refused math tests — 1,694 of 4,880, according to Superintendent Jose Carrion.

Last year, 40 percent of students refused math tests.

The district's ELA refusal rate was 32 percent this year, compared to 40 percent in 2017.